diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/xsk.c b/tools/lib/bpf/xsk.c
index 526fc35c0b233..443b0cfb45e84 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/xsk.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/xsk.c
@@ -1019,6 +1019,9 @@ int xsk_socket__create(struct xsk_socket **xsk_ptr, const char *ifname,
 		       struct xsk_ring_cons *rx, struct xsk_ring_prod *tx,
 		       const struct xsk_socket_config *usr_config)
 {
+	if (!umem)
+		return -EFAULT;
+
 	return xsk_socket__create_shared(xsk_ptr, ifname, queue_id, umem,
 					 rx, tx, umem->fill_save,
 					 umem->comp_save, usr_config);